The following article first appeared in Free Movement   on 23 February, 2026. From 25 February the UK will begin enforcing pre-departure checks which require carriers to confirm that passengers have permission to travel. This has raised concern that dual British nationals who only hold a foreign passport will be denied boarding or refused entry to the UK. The headlines are frantic: “New passport rules set to affect more than one million Brits – who risk being banned from flig

As Chair of the ELA Pro Bono Committee, Partner Eliza Nash has written for this month's ELA briefing about the benefits for employment lawyers of getting involved in pro bono activities, which goes way beyond "doing good". Eliza notes that the work "can be invaluable for junior lawyers honing their skills and gaining experience in areas that they may not be exposed to in fee earning work, as well as contributing to network building". Eliza highlights a number of opportunitie

With the Employment Rights Act finally gaining Royal Assent in December 2025, we take a look at what's in store for employment law in 2026. Our updated tracker highlights some of the key changes for 2026: April 2026 New pay rates: Each April new statutory minimum rates apply for the year ahead. From 1 April 2026, minimum pay rates per hour will increase to: ·         National Living Wage: o 21 and over - £12.71 – 4.1% increase (or £977 increase per year for full time staff o

Law meets leadership: Why It’s time to rethink how we solve workplace challenges In the ever-shifting landscape of modern work, the challenges facing UK employers and employees have never been more complex or more interconnected. From navigating hybrid work and mental health expectations to dealing with AI’s impact on jobs and keeping abreast of changing regulations, every decision at work now has both a human and a legal dimension. That intersection—where leadership meets la

The Employment Rights Bill should receive Royal Assent this month.  On 28 October 2025, the House of Lords considered the House of Commons’ amendments to the Employment Rights Bill.  The Lords proposed changes to: 1.       zero-hours clauses (amending their own amendment); 2.       the day-one right to unfair dismissal protections (insisting on a 6-month qualifying period, rather than day-one); and 3.       industrial action ballot thresholds (disagreeing with the proposal t

The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) was published 365 days ago.  It has been billed as the biggest shake-up to employment law rights in this...

In August I wrote a blog about the use of AI in HR.  My personal enthusiasm for AI remains unbounded however irrespective of my own...

Our Managing Partner, John Hayes considers the use of AI in generating legal responses, and cites recent personal experience of...

In the early 19 th  century, groups of Yorkshire and Lancashire textile workers, known collectively as Luddites, protested against the...